Metal-free electrochemical fluorodecarboxylation of aryloxyacetic acids to fluoromethyl aryl ethers.

Electrochemical decarboxylation of aryloxyacetic acids followed by fluorination provides easy access to fluoromethyl aryl ethers. This electrochemical fluorodecarboxylation offers a sustainable approach with electric current as traceless oxidant. Using EtN·5HF as fluoride source and as supporting electrolyte, this simple electrosynthesis affords various fluoromethoxyarenes in yields up to 85%.

Fluorocyclization of -Propargylamides to Oxazoles by Electrochemically Generated ArIF.

A sustainable synthesis of 5-fluoromethyl-2-oxazoles by use of electrochemistry has been demonstrated. Hypervalent ArIF is generated by direct electrochemical oxidation of iodoarene ArI in EtN·5HF and mediates the fluorocyclization of -propargylamides to 5-fluoromethyl-2-oxazoles. The stoichiometry in ArI turned out to be a key parameter in controlling the product selectivity.